Critic Reviews

Seriously, if I may get a little personal here: I haven't played an action RPG combining so much nostalgia with so much worthwhile gameplay and a new character development EVER before. Most remakes bore me...this is a TRUE remake. Square didn't just rehash...they remade. They made significant improvements...it's practically a new game, but it's still the same old story. Same names of people and places, same sequence of events and plotline, but worthwhile additions to both. Wow. Brownie Brown developed one amazing game, and Square Enix has produced a shining gem among what many are saying is an otherwise mediocre line-up of games...(that is, I'm told many gamers are jaded and do not appreciate games like FFX-2 or FFTA). I should like to see a more critical review of Sword of Mana, but I shall not be the one to write it.

Sword of Mana is a fine game. I have enjoyed my time playing the title. The plot is enjoyable. The twists in the plot are very surprising. The graphics are nice. The problem with foreground elements does not show up much. The inability to save at will is the only real weakness in this title. It is one of the few immersive Gameboy Advanced titles out there.

Quibbles aside, Mana is a well-made game with excellent visuals and a really fun battle system it's just too bad the story is such a generic yarn. Take on Golden Sun, Boktai, Fire Emblem, and Final Fantasy Tactics Advance before you go searching for this sword.

I can absolutely recommend Sword of Mana to anyone who enjoys story-driven action-RPGs. There's a lot of game here, especially for a GBA cartridge. Although there's much combat, Sword of Mana is primarily a game of exploration. The controls are great, and the story is appealing. I finished the heroine's storyline in just under 29 hours, and I didn't even come close to completing every side quest. Depending on your play style, Sword of Mana offers 40 to 70 hours of playtime to work through both characters' storylines. Finding every item and completing every side quest could take even longer. If you aren't bothered by save points and a few imperfections in sound, NPC AI and game balance, you'll find a lot to keep you happily busy in Sword of Mana. If you're a GBA owner looking for a story-driven action-RPG with surprising depth, then I would definitely recommend Sword of Mana.

Fans of the series won’t be disappointed, but they definitely won’t be blown away, either. I think Sword of Mana tries too hard to be something it’s not – with unnecessary day/night changes, sub-missions, and an abundance of items – instead of sticking with and improving on what worked for the series before: good action, innovative magic, and battling alongside AI allies. Sadly, at the end of the day, I probably would’ve been happier with a Secret of Mana port.

Sword of Mana has a lot to offer action RPG gamers with a GBA. Unfortunately, it also has a lot of flaws that prevent it from being a truly worthy successor to the excellent Secret of Mana. If you’re looking for a great GBA adventure RPG, then be sure to check out the many other great offerings on the GBA before dropping down your cash on Sword of Mana.

With the considerable power of the Game Boy Advance hardware, it's no surprise that remakes of classic games from the days of two dimensions have been very common on Nintendo's latest handheld. Now Square Enix has gotten into the act with Sword of Mana, a newly redone version of its original Game Boy title Final Fantasy Adventure. If you're unfamiliar with that little-known action adventure game, you might be interested to know that in Japan it was released as Seiken Densetsu, the prequel to a game for the Super NES called Secret of Mana. The new old-game is a pretty solid hack-and-slash adventure that's fun but not without its flaws. Those gamers hoping that Sword of Mana would rekindle the magic of Secret of Mana probably won't be wholly satisfied, but that doesn't mean they won't have fun with the game anyway.

Overall, this game takes together a bunch of good ideas and makes them work together relatively well. Real time battling is always great, but the addition of freedom in escaping makes it even better. Taking away the necessity of buying the latest weapons was a great idea, supplemented with the additions of being about to temper/forge, weapon shuffling, weapon leveling, and winning every weapon from battle. The ring menu is great for the GBA, as shuffling is easy with the L and R buttons. Magic also takes an interesting turn, with spirits, upgrading, spirit leveling, one button casting, and spirit shuffling. Most of all, the plot is well developed enough to be captivating without being an overload of dates, names, and information. All this combine to be an easy to use, but still challenging RPG.

Overall, I was somewhat letdown by Sword of Mana. It's like expecting gold and getting silver. You are still happy to have the silver, but you really wanted that gold! Sword of Mana definitely has its high points and has some great replay value in that you can play the game over from two separate points of view. Unfortunately, Sword of Mana comes across as somewhat mediocre. It was an interesting diversion over the holidays but I would recommend that you rent before buying. Here's hoping that Square / Enix comes out with a worthy Mana game next time...

If you are a fan of Legend of Mana or Secret of Mana or Final Fantasy Adventure or RPGs or Action RPGs or Game Boy Advance or any such thing, Sword of Mana is worth checking out. It is relatively new, so it probably costs just about as much as any other Game Boy Advance game ($29.99 or so), but you could always find it used at your local EBGames or GameStop. I'd go so far as to say that this game would be perfect for you if you were getting tired of playing really long RPGs like Dragon Warrior VII. In any case, give Sword of Mana a try.

A lot of people have the image that Square can do no wrong. True, when it comes to RPGs Square has one of the most highly regarded track records out there. But the company far from infallible, and Sword of Mana is a good indication that even a company like Square can create a not-so-stunning production. Sword of Mana is definitely not a bad RPG; it's an extensive, solid adventure on the Game Boy Advance. But it definitely just barely squeaks in there a little higher than the "above average" moniker, with a lot of little things that drag the experience.

Seeing how Sword of Mana was an installment in the Mana series, I was jumping with joy when announced. But now that I imagine that moment, it’s just silly because it just turned out to be another mediocre RPG. Maybe it’s because of the several nuisances that frequently occur in the game, or maybe I’ve just been spoiled by epic RPGs such as Golden Sun. I really don’t know. I can only recommend a purchase of this game if you were a fanatical aficionado of the series, or if you find it for an incredible bargain. Otherwise, there is not really anything revolutionary in this game.

Sword of Mana is an odd contradiction. It has some great aspects to it that make it a lot of fun. But at the same time, there are some real problems with the game and how it plays. It’s a better than average game. But it is by no means a game you should rush out to buy. The Story and Graphics will lure you in, but the play control and the fact it is just too easy will make you wish you could rent GBA games to see if it’s your cup of tea or not.

Secret of Mana was one of the first true action/RPGs, and is one of the most cherished of 16-bit RPGs. Back when rumors of a portable SNES were circulating playgrounds and Prodigy forums, I dreamt that I would one day play that seminal game on a portable machine. Sword of Mana is pretty much my teenage dream come true, but I've grown and it hasn't, at least not in the right ways.

Fans of the Seiken Densetsu series will not want to miss this remake, but casual fans looking to recapture the magic of Secret of Mana will come away disappointed. The game is on the short side, so it can be played through quickly. The gameplay works well on the handheld system and can be played in small chunks. Overall, Sword of Mana is only average at best, and gamers would be better off finding a different action RPG to occupy their time.